Police referred us to social services because I reported my neighbour for harassment

[Blackandwhite191919]

I've been having problems with a neighbour who likes to bang on the walls/ceiling when my children are playing. He has also been at my door multiple times, the most recent time he was loud and swearing at me. I reported it to the police with the hope of obtaining a harassment warning. I have an earlier post about it.

So the police came and I provided a statement, I'm just waiting to hear back on their next steps.

Yesterday morning I received an out of the blue call from social services. They'd received the info from the police and were calling as a formality. It put the fear of God into me.

There were no safeguarding concerns raised about me/my parenting, our home etc. They have no plans to come out and get involved - so it was completely pointless and unnecessary, but a formality apparently.

I have a lot of trauma from my experiences with the police and social services from when I was young, there's far too much to go into, so it took a lot of courage for me to reach out and report this neighbour in the first place.

One example of many - I once called the police as I'd been assaulted and locked in the house (domestic abuse) but because the abuser lied and told them I'd assaulted him - I got arrested, even though he had a long history of doing the same things.

I have now reverted back to not wanting to deal with the police at all and likely won't ask for help again in the future which isn't ideal as I may well need them at some point.

AIBU to think they shouldn't have done that?

No I haven’t missed the point - the police don’t just randomly refer anyone in case they’ve been in contact with any of the services you refer to above - that would be like saying, the OP’s house was burgled, police better report to SS in case she’s ever been in contact with SS/school etc? There is no link.

The link is as I said in my first post.

The OP reporting harrassment from a neighbour, which could be just that or could be other things.

It's not a singular crime like a burglary where there's a clear criminal and victim, it's a social complaint where there may be a crime being committed or may not and there can be complex reasons and some of them can include the alleged victim reporting may have difficulties and issues themselves, which may impact on the DC in the home.

If you've been on MN for a while you'll know there are numerous neighbour complaint posts where the OP may not be in the right but makes complaints about the neighbours doing normal things because they cause them stress, but also, sometimes posters don't see that their neighbours complaints about them are justified.

It only becomes a crime if threatening conduct or a pattern of conduct which could potentially amount to harrassment.

And is something that most Police forces encounter every single day. And most often, it isn't criminal but if DC are in the house, that means they are potentially being exposed to the neighbour dispute and there should be steps taken to at least check if everything is okay at home and if they're potentially suffering from it.

And if there are no other concerns then it will be closed. But if there are additional concerns, it could result in DC and families being given the support they need.

Sorry still not seeing the link, neighbour threatens me. I call police, police then call SS to update them that I have an aggressive neighbour - what can SS do about my neighbour? Nothing, they have no powers to act at all. So what is the purpose in them being involved?

If they hadn't, and something was wrong they'd have been wrong to have not followed up.

Also, in DV situations it would give a victim an advantage in have the unexpected opportunity to speak out.

I'm sorry your past experience has caused you continued anxiety.

If it helps, I've had two calls from SS after taking DS to A&E with genuine, but unusual injuries. Try to see the positive.

It isn't anything personal, its any time police are called to a house and there are children. I had this when my elderly neighbour had a heart attack and died right on my doorstep. Obviously police and ambulance turned up. I was told that they had notified SS but no action was needed. I was horrified at first, but they explained it was just a formality.

But that’s a complete waste of resources, surely!

I don't expect I'll be hearing from SS again as she said she was closing the referral.

The neighbour will have a social services referral to deal with himself though as the police found and confiscated "a load of drugs" from the flat when it was searched on Saturday. They have a child who stays, but I don't think lives with them FT.

The bloke is still swanning around as cocky as anything. Wouldn't you be scared shitless if you'd just been nabbed for drug dealing?! Not walking about laughing.

The mind boggles.

The neighbour will have a social services referral to deal with himself though as the police found and confiscated "a load of drugs" from the flat when it was searched on Saturday. They have a child who stays, but I don't think lives with them FT.

Not necessarily.

It depends how linked up/over burdened your local SS team are and what perception they have of your "delightful" neighbour.

Unless you are a private tenant I would still go ahead with reporting him to your landlord/freeholder for harassing your children especially if you can get a crime reference number.

As you absolutely know what has been going on my life for the last few decades and that of my DC for the last few years you are clearly able to make a fully informed comment.

Some social services staff - I wouldn't call them professionals - are unable to do their jobs properly even when they have people within their departments who are willing and able to get them up to speed, and prefer to rely on ethnic/racial stereotypes that is until they are challenged. Once they are challenged they then lie until they resign and their bosses cover for them as it implicates on their department.